1:25 1986 Dodge Shelby Charger

1:25 1986 Dodge Shelby Charger, an MPC kit

The kit 1:25 1986 Dodge Shelby Charger from the American brand MPC is an injection-molded plastic model of a passenger car in 1:25 scale. The subject is the compact Dodge coupe of the 1986 model year in the hot version carrying Carroll Shelby's name.

The real subject

The Shelby Charger belongs to the time when Chrysler was building compact cars with front-wheel drive and looking for a sporting face for them. The cooperation with Carroll Shelby gave the ordinary coupe a firmer chassis, more direct steering, striking graphics and body add-ons. Compared with the American V8s of the previous era it was a different world: a light, economical car whose temperament rested on a tuned four-cylinder and low weight. Today it is a rewarding modeling subject, because manufacturers cover the 1980s considerably less often than the 1960s.

Building and painting tips

Finish the chassis and the interior first and only then close the body up. Sand the parting seams on the body and polish the surface, because the single-color finishes of the 1980s give away every irregularity. Spray a gloss coat under the decals, so that their edges do not sink into matte paint and leave a visible boundary around them. The interior of a production car looks better with fine highlighting of the texture of the plastics and with a dark shade flowed into the recesses. Leave the tires matte, and the wheels with a sharp metallic shine instead.

Who the model is for

• collectors of American cars of the 1980s in 1:25
• fans of the Dodge brand and of cars linked with Shelby's name
• modelers who want an unconventional subject for a display case
• builders of youngtimer collections

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.